smith



J. S. SMITH.

TILE MACHINE.

(No ModeL) Patented Jan. 8, 1884.

WITNESSES I UNTTE STATES ATENT @rmcn.

JOHN S. SMITH, OF JACKSON, M IOHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THEODORE G. BENNETT, OF SAME PLACE.

TILE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,793, dated January 8, 1854:.

-application filed November 30, 1883.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN S. SMITH, of Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making Draining- Tiles or Sewer-Pipe, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the tables of that class .of tilemachines in which the clay is forced in a continuous tube from an annular mouth upon a table whereon it is cut into convenient lengths. Its object is to furnish a movable table which shall move forward with the advancing tubular stream of clay, and shall support the plastic tube while being cut into lengths by a cutter which moves with the table and the tube, and be automatically returned to the starting-point as soon as the sections have been out. V

In the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view with part of the frame broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 a detached view of the V-formed arm which communicates motion from the screwshaft to the troughs.

In the drawings the same letters are employed in the indication of identical parts in the several figures.

A is the body of the table, supported on legs of such height as to bring the troughs into proper relation to the mouth of the tilemachine, and that the threaded shaft B, which has its bearings in the table-frame, shall be in line with the shaft of the back gear of the tile-machine, to which it is intended to be connected by any proper coupling. If preferred, a single continuous shaft may be employed. The threaded shaft B thus forming part of the driving-shaft of the tile-mill, the pitch of its thread must be determined by the speed of the driving-shaft and the speed it is desired to give to the table on its return movement.

0n the upper face of the table-frame is a track, 0, for the wheels 0, which are journaled on the intermediate frame, D, and travel lengthwise of the table A, to and from the tile-mill. In the crossbars of the intermediate frame are the bearings for the bent bar E, which, extended the length of frame D, is

(No model.)

bent first upward and again horizontally, its free end being parallel to that part which is carried in frame D, and high enough to clear the plastic tube, which is out into sections by wires E, which are stretched at proper intervals to form sections of the drain-pipe between the horizontal sections of the rod D, which thus forms the frame for the cutter, and may be oscillated from side to side by the hand of the attendant.

The adjustable frame F is carried upon the intermediate frame, D, by the adj ustingscrews E, which permit it to be raised or lowered, as may be necessary to adapt the table to the greater or less diameter of the tile to be made.

The trough Gis made in sections, supported by cross-beams upon the frame F, the length and position of the sections of the trough being such as to accomodate the sections of the tile and bring an open space opposite each of the cutting-wires.

I have shown in the drawings a single set of troughs. It will only be necessary to duplicate the troughs to adaptthe table to a double machine.

The movement of the table away from the machine is accomplished by the forward thrust of the emerging plastic tube, which causes the table to move at its own speed, and thus permits the wires, which travel with the table and the tube, when swung from side to side, to cut the soft clay in parallel planes uniformly at right angles to the axis of the tube. \Vhen the sections have been cut, the table is automatically moved toward the tile-mill by the following mechanism:

To the lower free end of the U-formed bar E is secured a \l-formed arm, H, by means of a set-screw, H, or other known method. The angle of the arm. is somewhat more than a right angle, and such that the oscillation of the bar E, in passing thewires through the clay tube or tile, will bring the outer ends of the arm H to the face of the threaded shaft B.

Slots are cut in the ends of the V-formed arm, 7 and in these slots there are adj ustably attached sectional threads H which are adapted to the thread of the shaft B, curved to conform to the shaft B, and fixed in position when properly adjusted by means of nuts upon their threaded stems. B at B to receive the sectional threads H when they run off of the threaded part of the shaft B at the end next the tilemill.

The machine is operated as follows: The table being in position, the troughs in place, and the wires drawn tautby their adjustingscrews, the mill is started and the emerging tile is forced out upon the troughs, which are broughtto thcproper position by the adj ustingscrews F, and along the surface of the troughs until tube enough to form, say, two sections has been deposited, and then the operator, seizing the cutter-frame, swings it from one side to the other to pass the wires through the soft clay. The instant the movement of bar E commences the sectional thread II is liftedb y the arm II out of the groove B, and the frames D F are free to move on their friction-wheels along the track 0, and so yield to the press ure of the tile-mill, causing the forward thrust of the tile, and, moving with the tileand at the same speed, the wires, which also move with them, will cut through the tile in planes at right angles to its axis. The completion'of the cut brings the bar E to the other side of the machine, and the other sectional thread II on arm I-I into cont-act with the shaft B, when, falling into the space between the threads on said shaft, it instantly causes the table-frames and troughs to travel with the motion of the thread toward the tile-mill, and when the sectional thread H passes into the groove B the movement stops and the operation is repeated, the attendant in the mean time having removed the severed section of the tile, and so the operation goes on indefinitely. The movement of the table in both directions being automatic, the attendant has nothing to do but operate the cutter and re move the tile as formed and out. It is this automatic movement of the table in both directions by the power which drives the tilemill which distinguishes my invention from machines which have been heretofore in use.

I do not desire to be limited strictly to the mechanism shown, for that may be varied without departing in the least from the principle of my invention. Thus the shaft B need not be an extension of the driving-shaft of the tile-mill, though that is the simplest way to actuate it; but it will operate in the same way if otherwise actuated. So, also, a

clutch mechanism may be substituted for the V-formed arm, and made to engage and disengage the threaded shaft in a manner well A groove is out in the shaft 1 known to skilled mechanics.

I prefer the device shown, because it is very simple and entirely effective. The table may be made in fewer parts. By making the ways adjustable vertically, the intermediate section may be dispensedwith, andso of other changeswhich may be made without departing from the principle of my machine.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a tile-machine, a table the reciprocating portion of which is moved automatically from and toward the tile, forming dies by the power which aetuates the tile-machine, and by means substantially such as is set forth.

2. In combination with the reciprocating portion of a tile-machine table, the threaded shaft B and connecting mechanism for giving the table motion toward the tile-forming dies automatically, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the reciprocating portion of a tile-machine table, the threaded shaft '5 and oscillating arm II, attached to the table and connected with the thread on the shaft B, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the reciprocating portion of a tile-machine table, the oscillating arm and threaded shaft B, constructed with a groove to receive the arm and stop the movement of the table autonmtically, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the reciprocating portion of a tile-machine table, the oscillating V-shaped arm II, with sectional threads H at each end of the arm, so that the threaded shaft B may be engaged by shifting the cutter from one side to the other, passing once through the tile, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the reciprocating portion of a tile-machine table, which receives motion from the tile-forming dies by' the forward thrust of the tile, a cutter moving with the table, a detent which disengages the table when the cutteris to be moved across the tile, and automatic mechanism for retracting the table when the cut is complete, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto attached my name in presence of two attesting witnesses.

JOHN S. SMITH.

In presence of IV. M. LILLIBRIDGE, R1. Mason. 

